Toy vehicle track



June 30, 1964 P. BRAVERMAN 3,139,237

TOY VEHICLE TRACK Filed Aug. 31, 1960 United States Patent 3,139,237 TOY VEHICLE TRACK Robert P. Braverman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Marvin I. Glass, Chicago, Ill. Filed Aug. 31, 1960, Ser. No. 53,272 Claims. (Cl. 238) This invention relates generally to racing games incorporating toy vehicles which are movable along an associated track. More specifically, the invention relates to the construction of the track and of the means whereby the vehicles are maintained on the track and are electrically energized to cause their travel along the track.

Sports and games involving the racing of vehicles in competition with one another are very popular today, especially races held on closed race tracks. Millions of ancient Romans cheered to the death-defying feats of the charioteers and millions today land the courage and skill exhibited by drivers of modern, high-speed race cars.

Certain of the challenges associated With the driving of racing cars can be obtained by competitively operating toy vehicles along associated tracks. These challenges include operating the vehicle at the highest possible speed without causing the racer to fly off the track as it rounds curves. Included in the problems involved in the maintenance of relatively high-speeds is the avoidance of any obstruction to the travel of the toy vehicle along the track and the continued establishment of electrical contact with the track.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide a toy vehicle track which provides for the unimpeded travel of a toy racing vehicle along the track.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy vehicle including means cooperating with the track to provide guides for the travel of the vehicle along the track as well as to provide electrical contact with the track.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a toy vehicle track which is easily fabricated and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved toy racing car capable of negotiating curves in toy vehicle tracks at relatively high speeds without flying off the track.

Further objects of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of a pair of racing cars and tracks embodying the features of this invention, the tracks being arranged in a position for racing the cars in competition with one another;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, taken along the section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view, taken along line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, sectional view, taken along section line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary and partly sectioned view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 1, showing a portion of the under carriage of one of the race cars and the track; and

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the representation shown in FIGURE 5.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the invention as shown in FIGURES 1 through 6 inclusive, comprises a toy vehicle track 10 in combination with an electrically driven toy vehicle 12 which is propellable along the track 10. The track 10 comprises a pair of electrically conductive, longitudinally extending, parallel spaced members 14 and a plurality of electrically non-conductive cross supports 16 extending between the members 14 so as to elevate and support them above the surface supporting the tracks and the vehicle 12. Each of the members 14 has a generally tubular shape and includes a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel spaced edges 18 disposed for receiving therebetween in frictional engagement the ends of the cross supports 16 so as to secure the supports 16 to the track members 14.

The toy vehicle 12 includes an electrical motor (not shown) and has a combination electrical pick up and guide device 27 depending from its underside so as to engage with the track 10 and thereby transfer electrical energy to the vehicle 12 from the track 10 and guide the vehicle 12 along the track 10. The pick up and guide device 27 includes an electrically non-conductive bracket 28 pivotally mounted to the underside of the vehicle 12. The bracket 28 has a pair of vertically depending and horizontally spaced arms 30, each of which is adapted to engage the outermost side surfaces of the members 14 and curves outwardly at its forward end to guide the vehicle as it moves along the track 10. A pair of metallic spring contacts or pick ups 32 is also secured to the bracket 28 so that each pick up 32 engages with one of the members 14 so as to make electrical contact with the member 14 and thereby transfer electrical energy to the vehicle 12.

Each of the members 14 is constructed of a sheet 15 of electrically conductive material such as copper. This sheet 15 is formed into generally cylindrical formwith the longitudinal edges 18 spaced at a distance not less than the inside diameter 19 of the members 14.

Each of the cross-supports 16 interconnecting the members 14 is constructed as a single block of electrically non-conductive material such as plastic, and has a generally T-shaped tongue 28 extending horizontally at each of its ends. The tongue 20 has a stem 22 and a cross bar 24. The members 14 are frictionally secured to the supports 16 by forcing the stems 22 between the edges 18 of the members 14 to locate the cross bars 24 generally within the members 14. Frictional engagement of the tongues 20 with the members 14 may be accomplished by several different arrangements.

In one arrangement, the vertical dimension of the cross bars 24 is greater than the inside diameter 19 of the members 14, so that the cross bars 24 frictionally engage the inside surface of the members 14. In another arrangement, the stems 22 can be made with a vertical dimension greater than the spacing 17 between the edges 18 of the member 14, thus providing frictional engagement between the edges 18 and the stems 22 incident to forcible assembly of the tongues 20 within the members 14. Another arrangement is to construct each support 16 so as to include a projection 25 extending horizontally from each end of the support 16 so that it is spaced vertically below the tongue 20. The spacing between the projection 25 and the downward end of the cross bar 24 is such as to cause frictional engagement between the lower end of the cross bar 24 and the inside surface of the member 14, and between the upper surface of the projection 25 and the outside surface of the member 14. Preferably, the projections 25 do not extend beyond the outermost side surfaces of the members 14, thus providing an uninterrupted and smooth outer side surface along each side of the track 10 and avoiding obstruction of the travel of the vehicle 12 along the track 10.

Any combination of any or all of the above arrangements can also be used to obtain frictional engagement of the tongues 20 with the members 14.

The toy vehicle 12 is an electrically driven vehicle having four wheels 26 which roll upon the surface supporting the track 10 so as to be in straddling relationship to the track 10. As previously indicated, the combination pick up and guide device 27 carried by the vehicle 12 serves to transfer electrical energy from the track 10 to the vehicle 12, as well as to guide the vehicle 12 as it moves along the track 10.

The device 27 comprises a bracket 28 which is constructed of electrically non-conductive material such as plastic and is pivotally mounted to the underside of the vehicle 12 at a point adjacent the forward end of the vehicle 12. The bracket 28 includes a pair of generally parallel arms 30 vertically depending frorn'its ends. These arms 30 are horizontally spaced apart so that the spacing between them is greater than the spacing between the outermost side surfaces of the members 14. The front ends of the arms 30 are generally arcuately shaped so that they diverge outwardly from the remaining portion of the arm 30 and prevent binding between the arms 30 and the track members 14 as the vehicle negotiates a curve. These depending arms 3% guide the vehicle 12 as it moves along the track by engaging with the outermost side surfaces of the members 14 and keeping the vehicle 12 aligned with the track 10.

The spring pick ups 32 are constructed of electrically conductive and resilient material such as spring copper and are attached to the bracket 28 so that each pick up 32 contacts one of the members 14 as the vehicle 12 moves along the track 10. Preferably, the pick ups 32 extend forwardly of the bracket 28 and include a. rearwardly ex tending re-bent end portion 29 which engages with the track members 14. This construction imparts to the pick ups 32 an arcuate leading edge which rides along the track smoothly and also serves to bias the end portion 29 downwardly against the track members 14, to provide reliable electrical contact.

Prior to operation, the track 10 is formed into a closed loop, preferably by joining separate sections of the track 10 together end-to-end, and the vehicle 12 is placed over the track 10 with the wheels 26 and the device 27 positioned so as to straddle the track members 14. A source of electrical energy, such as a power pack commonly used with toy electric trains, or a battery 34 which is connected to the members 14 through a rheostat 36, is operable to vary the amount of electrical energy supplied to the vehicle 12, thereby permitting variation in the speed of the vehicle 12 as it moves along the track 10.

The operation of a pair of vehicles 12 upon two closed loop tracks 10 of equal length permits competitive racing of the vehicles 12 against one another to test the skill of competing operators. FIGURE 1 shows an arrangement adapted for racing such a pair of vehicles 12, including two separate power supplies34 and rheostats 36 for providing variable electrical energy to the tracks 10. The arrangement shown in FIGURE 1 also includes two banked bridges 38 which carry each of the tracks 10 over the other so as to permit generally parallel racing of the vehicles 12 over closed loop tracks 10 of the same length. Many other arrangements of the tracks 10 will facilitate competitive racing of the vehicles 12. When the vehicles 12 are raced around curves in the tracks '10, the arms 30 depending from the device 27 on the underside of the vehicle 12 guide the vehicle around the curves 1%. and maintain the. vehicle in contact with the tracks 10. However, the rear of the vehicle is free to slide laterally of the tracks in simulation of the movement of a racing car around a curve, and if the vehicle 12 is propelled too quickly around the curves, it will fly 01f thetracks, notwithstanding the usual tendency of the arms 30 to maintain thevehicle on the tracks 10. Thus, the skill of the operator is challenged in a manner similar to the way in which the skill of a racing car driver is challenged.

The incorporation in-the device 27 of the arms 30 having outwardly curved forward ends insures that the vehicle v members 14 are frictionally engaged with the tongues 20 of. the cross supports 16 provides a'track which is simple and relatively inexpensive to construct, and which, at the same time, provides smooth upper and side outer surfaces for unhindered travel of the pick ups 32 and guide arms 30 of the device 27 along the track 10. The disclosed arrangement wherein the projection 25 does not extend beyond the outermost side surfaces of the members 14, protects against any hinderance to the travel of the wheels 26 or of the device 27 along the track 10.

Various features of the invention believed to be new are set forth in the appended'claims.

gitudinally extending, parallel spaced edges, the inner surface of each of said members having opposing portions spaced at a distance greater than the distance between said edges, said supports each including at each end a tongue having a stem and a cross bar, each of said tongues extending within one of said members with said stem in i frictional engagement with said edges, said cross bar being transversed to said edges an ci positioned between said opposing portions of the inner surface of said members and having a length greater than the distance between said edges.

2. A toy vehicle track comprising a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel spaced members and a plurality of electrically non-conductive cross supports extending between said members so as to elevate and support said members above the surface supporting said track, each of said members being of electrically conductive sheet material and being shaped so as to include a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel spaced edges, the inner surface of each of said members having opposing portions spaced at a distance greater than the distance between said edges, said supports each including at each end a tongue having a stem and a cross bar, each of said tongues extending within one of said members with said stern disposed between said edges and with the ends of said cross bar in frictional engagement with said opposing portions of said inner surface of said members.

3. A toy vehicle track comprising a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel spaced members and a plurality of electrically non-conductive cross supports extending between said members so as to elevate and support said members above the surface supporting said track, each of said members being of electrically conductive sheet material and being shaped so as to include a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel spaced edges, a convex outer surface, and a concave inner surface, said inner surface having opposing portions spaced at a distance greater than the distance between said .edges, said supports each including at each end a generally T-shaped tongue having a stem and a cross bar, each of said tongues extending within one of said members with said stem in frictional engagement with said edges and with the ends of said cross bar in frictional engagement with said opposing portions of said inner concave surface.

4. A toy vehicle track comprising a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel spaced members and a plurality of electrically non-conductive cross supports extending between said members so as to elevate and support said members above the surface supporting said track, each of said members being of electrically conductive sheet material and being shaped so as to include a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel spaced edges, the inner surface of each of said members having opposing portions spaced at a distance greater than the distance between said edges, said supports each including at each enda pair of spaced projections, one of said pair of projections being generally T-shaped with a stem and a cross bar, said cross bar having one end extending to adjacent the other of said pairof projections, each of-said' T-shaped projections extending between the edges and within one of said members so as to frictionally engage said one end of said cross bar With one of the portions of the inner surface of the associated member and so as to frictionally engage the other of said pair of projections With a portion of the outer surface adjacent to the engaged inner portion of the associated member.

5. A toy vehicle track comprising a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel spaced members and a plurality of electrically non-conductive cross supports extending between said members so as to elevate and support said members above the surface supporting said track, each of said members being of electrically conductive sheet material and being shaped so as to include a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel spaced edges, a convex outer surface, and a concave inner surface, said inner surface having opposing portions spaced at a distance greater than the distance between said edges, said supports each including at each end a pair of spaced projections, one of said pair of projections being generally T- shaped and including a stern and a cross bar with one end extending to adjacent the other of said pair of projections, each of said T-shaped projections extending Within one of said members with said stem in frictional engagement with the edges of said member, with the ends of said cross bar in frictional engagement with the opposed portions of the inner concave surface of said member, and With the other of said pair of projections in frictional engagement with a portion of the outer convex surface of said member adjacent the portion of said inner surface engaged by said one end of said cross bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 277,766 McKenney May 15, 1883 1,122,397 Jackson Dec. 29, 1914 2,026,181 Kennedy Dec. 31, 1935 2,265,965 Frisbee Dec. 9, 1941 2,388,297 Slaughter Nov. 6, 1945 2,920,420 Kolodziejski Ian. 12, 1960 

1. A TOY VEHICLE TRACK COMPRISING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING, PARALLEL SPACED MEMBERS AND A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICALLY NON-CONDUCTIVE CROSS SUPPORTS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS SO AS TO ELEVATE AND SUPPORT SAID MEMBERS ABOVE THE SURFACE SUPPORTING SAID TRACK, EACH OF SAID MEMBERS BEING OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE SHEET MATERIAL AND BEING SHAPED SO AS TO INCLUDE A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING, PARALLEL SPACED EDGES, THE INNER SURFACE OF EACH OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING OPPOSING PORTIONS SPACED AT A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID EDGES, SAID SUPPORTS EACH INCLUDING AT EACH END A TONGUE HAVING A STEM AND A CROSS BAR, EACH OF SAID TONGUES EXTENDING WITHIN ONE OF SAID MEMBERS WITH SAID STEM IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID EDGES, SAID CROSS BAR BEING TRANSVERSED TO SAID EDGES AND POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID OPPOSING PORTIONS OF THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID MEMBERS AND HAVING A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID EDGES. 